The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is Australia's national transport safety investigator. The ATSB's function is to improve safety and public confidence in the aviation, marine and rail modes of transport. The ATSB is Australia's prime agency for the independent investigation of civil aviation, rail and maritime accidents, incidents and safety deficiencies.

Summary

Summary

On 13 October 2005, at 0618 Eastern Standard Time, a Saab
Aircraft AB 340B (Saab), registered VH-UYA, departing Townsville
Airport, Queensland, came within the minimum separation standard of
1,000 ft vertically and of 3 NM horizontally of an inbound Cessna
Aircraft Company 310R (Cessna), registered VH-TFP. There was an
infringement of air traffic control separation standards.

The pilots of the Saab were instructed by air traffic control to
depart Townsville on a heading of 350 degrees magnetic, to ensure a
lateral separation standard existed between the Saab and the
arriving Cessna. However, on departure the pilots of the Saab
continued their left turn through the assigned heading, before
turning their aircraft back to a heading of 350 degrees. The
approach controller provided traffic information to the pilot of
the Cessna and when the pilot reported that he had not sighted the
Saab, the approach controller instructed him to make a left orbit.
The Saab passed almost overhead the Cessna with about 500 ft
vertical separation between them.

Despite a correct readback to the controller and recording the
assigned heading on the take off and landing data card, the Saab
copilot forgot about the heading instruction as he commenced the
turn after takeoff. The pilot in command, as the pilot not flying,
intended to monitor the conduct of the flight but was busy
adjusting the power levers and did not immediately realise that the
aircraft's heading had diverged from the assigned heading.

Following the occurrence the operator of the Saab issued two
standing orders.